Partition support for crates



Jan. 30, 1951 s. .1: \BLACKWELL 2,539,721

PARTITION SUPPORT FOR CRATES Filed Nov. 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Jan. 3, 1951 s. J. BLACKWELL v 2,539,721 PARTITION SUPPORT FOR CRATES wgu I INVENTOR. if

Zacicwe Patented Jan. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARTITION SUPPORT FOR CRATES Sanford J. Blackwell, St. Louis, Mo.

Application November 29, 1948, Serial No. 62,513

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to bottle crates.

In bottle crates embodying crossed wooden partitions, the transverse partitions are substantially deeper than the longitudinal partitions, usually extending the full height of the crate. The transverse partitions are notched or slotted for a depth of substantially the depth of the longitudinal partitions, with the result that that portion of the transverse partit on between the longitudinal partitions is greatly weakened, so that continued expansion and contraction and drying and moistening of the wood causes the transverse partitions to crack and break off, necessitating the opening of the crate for replacement of the broken partitions. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a reinforcing clip in combination with the longitudinal and transverse partitions which will resist splitting of the transverse partitions, and will hold any split or loose pieces from falling out.

Another object of this invention is to provide in combination with the partitions of a crate, a reinforcing clip which is held in position without any additional fastening means and does not re-- quire the use of any tools to apply the same.

A further object of this invention is to provide a composite transverse partition having the lower portion thereof formed of wood, with spaced composition portions engageable between the longitudinal partitions, and wire clips engaging beneath the longitudinal partitions and over the composition partitions for holding the latter in proper position.

A further object of this invention is to provide as a new article of manufacture, a reinforcing and holding clip for use in bottle crates which is formed from a single strand of relatively heavy wire formed into a closed elongated loop which is then bent in U-shape to provide one pair of U-shaped clamping members, and a pair of inverted U-shaped members with the bights of the latter engaging over the tops of the transverse partitions of a crate cage and the first pair having the bights engaging under the lower edges of the longitudinal partitions. The clip may also be a stamping.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bottle crate constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

in blank form,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section of a modified form of this invention,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1-4 of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section of another modification of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the numeral l0 designates generally a bottle crate which is formed of opposite side members II, and opposite end members l2 and [3. The side members II and the end mem-, bers l2 and 13 have disposed therebetween a cage or partition structure generally designated as M. This partition structure l4 includes a plurality of longitudinally extending partition strips 15 which are fixed at their opposite ends in the end members 12 and L3.

The cage or partition means 14 also includes a plurality of transversely extending parallel strips IS. The longitudinal strips l5 are formed at spaced intervals with vertically disposed grooves I! in the opposite faces thereof, and the transverse strips [6 are formed with vertically disposed and upwardly extending slots 18.

The transverse strips l6, as shown in Figure 2, extend substantially the full height of the side members H, terminating at their upper edges a slight distance below the upper edges of the side members II.

By cutting the slots or mortices I8 in the transverse partition members I6, these transverse members are thereby weakened in the space between the longitudinal partition members l5 so that when the crate is in use and the partition structure is subjected to moisture and rapid changes in temperature, that portion IQ of the transverse strips positioned between the longitudinal strips or partitions I5 frequently cracks or splits with the result that it is necessary to take the crate apart and reinsert new partition members for the split members.

In order to provide a means whereby the transverse strips 56 will be reinforced and so that any split intermediate portion 59 will be held against droppingout in the event the intermediate portion 1-19 becomes completely broken, I have provided alclip member generally designated as 20.

The clip member 29 includes a pair of U-shaped members 2i and 22 which are adapted to have their bights 23 and 24 respectively, engaged beneath the lower edges of the longitudinal partition members l5. The parallel legs 25 and 26 of the U-shaped members 2| and 22 extend upwardly at substantially the joint between the longitudinal and transverse partition members and the upper ends of the legs 25 and 25 are connect d together by means of connecting bars 21 and 28.

The clip is formed of a single strand of relatively stiff wire so that it will hold its preformed shape, and the parallel legs and 26 may be bent inwardly a slight degree so that they will resiliently contact the intermediate portions I9 of the transverse partition members H3. The connecting members 21 and 28 are adapted to en age over the upper edges of a transverse partition member I6, one connecting member being disposed on one side and the other connecting memb r being disposed on the opposite side of the same partition member I5.

With a clip as hereinbefore described, in the event the intermediate portion I 9 should become brok n. the connecting bars 21 and 28 which engage over the upper edges of the intermediate portions I9 will firmly hold the broken intermediate portion against displacement so that the crate can be u ed in the normal manner irrespective of whether any one or more of the transverse partition member are partly cracked or broken.

7 Referring now to Fi ures 6 and 7, there is disclosed a slig tly modified form of this invention wherein a clip 2M is rovid d which is formed of a pair of sub tantially V-shap d members 29 which are truncated at their lower ends with the truncated or connecting member 30 engaging beneath a lon itudinal partition member I5a. The upwardly divergent sides 3| extend on o posite sides of a transverse partition member I60 and each transverse partition member IBa is formed at its upper edge with a notch 32 within which the connecting bars 33 which connect the two V- shaped members 29 together are adapted to engage.

Referring now to Figure 8, there is disclo ed another modification of this invention wherein the transverse partition members 34 are formed of composite mat rial. The lower portion 35 of the transverse member 34 may be formed of wood which is provid d at its upper edge with a groove 36 within which a tongue 31, carried by the lower edge of an up er member 38 is adapt d to engage. The up er member 38 may be form d of rubber, composition material, plastic or the like.

It will be understood that the two partition forming members 35 and 38 may be glued or otherwise secured together, although the joint between these two m mbers may be such that the u per partition forming member 38 will be frictional v secured in the groove 35 of the lower member 35.. A clip 2?] is engaged on opposite sides of the upper partition forming member 38, extending over the upper edge of partition forming member 38. as indicated at 39. The clip 20 is adapted to engage beneath a longitudinal partition mem ber 40 which is similar in every detail to the partit-ion members I5.

Referring now to Figure 5, in the formation of the clip 26 and of the clip 20a, a single strand of wire is bent upon itself to form anelongated loop which is closed at the opposite ends thereof, the ends of the strand being welded together, as indicated at 4|. The elongated loop is then bent upwardly along the parallel lines 42 so as to thereby form a substantially double U-shaped member which is connected together at the free ends thereof, forming two pairs of U-shaped members.

With a clip as hereinbefore described, the broken or cracked intermediate member I9 of a transverse partition member I6 will be firmly held against loss or disengagement from its associated transverse partition, thereby prolonging the life of the cage or partition assembly. This clip may be made as a new article of manufacture and secured to partition cages of bottle crates of present construction when the crates are opened or separated or may be incorporated in the cage structure at the time a new cage is formed.

The connecting bars 21 and 28 of the clip 20 when engaged with the crate shown in Figure l, are flush with the upper edges of the sides II, and the ends I2 and I3, so that if the crate is inverted or one crate slid over the top of another crate, the partitions will not be contacted, thereby forming an upper edge protecting means for the partitions.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination a bottle crate comprising a frame, parallel spaced apart transverse partitions in said frame coextensive with the top and bottom edges thereof, spaced upwardly opening slots formed in each of said transverse partitions, longitudinal partitions intersecting said transverse partitions arl received by said slots, said longitudinal partitions having a depth equal to the depth of said slots, and a pair of connected together parallel U-shaped reinforcing members disposed at each joint between said longitudinal and transverse partitions, the bights of said U-shaped members engaging beneath the lower edges of said longitudinal partitions on opposite sides of the adjacent transverse partition and the connecting elements engaging over the upper edges of said transverse partitions, said U-shaped members abutting the side faces of the upper portion of said transverse partitions adjacent to said slots to thereby stiffen said transverse partitions.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a clip for reinforcing intersecting partitions of a bottle crate comprising a pair of U-shaped parallel extending wire members, and a pair of elongated connecting bars integral With said members and connecting the ends of the legs of said members together.

3. In combination a partition cage for bottle crates comprising right angularly related longitudinal and transverse partitions, said longitudinal partitions being of less height than said transverse partitions and engaging in upwardly opening slots formed in said transverse partitions, and a reinforcing clip disposed at each joint between said partitions, said clip having elongated U-shaped portions engaging beneath a longitudinal partition on opposite sides of a transverse partition and abutting said opposite sides of said transverse partitions, and connecting portions joining the ends of the legs of said U-shaped portions and engaging over the upper edgeof said 5 transverse partition on opposite sides of said longitudinal partition.

4. In combination, a partition cage for bottle crates comprising right angularly related longitudinal and transverse partitions, said longitudinal partitions being of less height than said transverse partitions and engaging in upwardly opening slots formed in said transverse partitions, and a reinforcing clip disposed at each joint between said partitions, each clip being formed of a pair of parallel extending truncated V-shaped members engaging beneath a longitudinal partition with the divergent sides thereof extending upwardly and abutting against opposite sides of a transverse partition, and connecting bars extending over the upper edge of a transverse partition on opposite sides of a longitudinal partition and connecting the ends of the divergent sides of one V-shaped member with the ends of the divergent sides of the other V-shaped member.

SANFORD J. BLACKWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

